Understanding+Federalism+
Center&for&Legislative&Archives&
National&Archives&and&Records&Administration&
www.archives.gov/legislative&
&
&
Worksheet+1:+Answer+Key+
&
Term+
Definition+
Visual+Representation+
Name+of+Where+I+Live+
Federal++
Government++
the&organization&through&
which&political&authority&
is&exercised&at&the&
national&level,&
government&of&the&United&
States&
(Hierarchy*with*Federal*
above*States)*
United*States*
State+
Government+
the&organization&through&
which&political&authority&
is&exercised&at&the&state&
level,&government&of&a&
specific&state&
(Hierarchy*with*State*
above*Counties)*
Florida*
Local+
Government+
the&governing&body&of&a&
municipality&or&county&
&
&
(Appropriate*local*
hierarchical*structure*
with,*perhaps*County*
above*community)*
Local*town*
&
&
Understanding+Federalism+
Center&for&Legislative&Archives&
National&Archives&and&Records&Administration&
www.archives.gov/legislative&
&
&
Worksheet+2+
&
& Worksheet+2&
Directions:+
1. Identify&the&level&of&government&relevant&
to&each&example&and&write&the&letter&of&
your&choice&in&the&appropriate&space&in&the&
diagram&to&the&left.&
&
a. The&many&small&children&who&live&on&
your&neighborhood&street&love&to&play&
outdoors.&Unfortunately,&the&traffic&on&
your&street&moves&too&fast,&creating&a&
safety&hazard.&You&would&like&to&have&a&
sign&installed&warning&drivers&to&slow&
down&and&watch&for&children&at&play.&&
Which&level&of&government&would&you&
contact?&
Local&
&
b. You&served&in&the&U.S.&Army&for&eight&
years&and&are&planning&to&attend&
college&on&the&G.I.&Bill&(a&college&
scholarship&provided&by&the&
government&to&military&veterans).&
Which&level&of&government&would&you&
contact&to&make&sure&you&receive&your&
G.I.&Bill&benefits?&
Federal&
&
c. You&have&just&moved&from&Casper,&
Wyoming&to&Tallahassee,&Florida,&and&
you&need&a&driver’s&license.&Which&level&
of&government&would&you&contact?&
State&
!
2. Write&a&one-sentence&explanation&of&
federalism&based&on&these&three&examples.&&
Answers&may&vary,&but&a&successful&answer&
would&describe&a&system&of&overlapping&
federal,&state&and&local&governments.&
This&diagram&shows&three&levels&of&
government&with&the&citizen&represented&
by&a&star.&Each&example&on&the&right&
presents&a&situation&that&might&affect:&
• people&in&one&town&or&county&&
• people&in&one&state,&such&as&
Florida&or&Texas&
• people&from&all&50&states&and&the&
territories&of&the&United&States
Federal&
A&
B&
C&
State&
Local&
Understanding+Federalism+
!"#$"%&'(%&)"*+,-.$+/"&0%12+/",&
3.$+(#.-&0%12+/",&.#4&5"1(%4,&046+#+,$%.$+(#&
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$2"&#.$+(#.-&*(/"%#6"#$&+,&4",1%+?"48&A2+,&7(%B,2""$&1(#$%.,$,&$2"&'+%,$&!(#,$+$<$+(#&'(%&$2"&
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G%+$.+#>&7+$2&$2"&(#"&.4(@$"4&?=&$2"&;(<#4"%,&+#&:HIH8&&
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3"7&S(%B>&3"7&W"%,"=>&K"##,=-/.#+.>&N"-.7.%">&U.%=-.#4>&X+%*+#+.>&3(%$2&!.%(-+#.>&D(<$2&
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&
:8 !%".$"&.&4+.*%.6&+--<,$%.$+#*&$2"&*(/"%#6"#$&4",1%+?"4&+#&$2+,&@%".6?-"8&
The$diagram$should$show$the$states$all$on$one$level$–$in$a$circle$-$with$the$Federal$
government$in$the$center$of$them.$The$key$fact$to$be$depicted$is$that$the$relationship$
between$the$Federal$government$and$the$states$is$not$hierarchical$but$the$Federal$
government$acts$as$the$agent$of$the$states$with$all$its$action$subject$to$the$approval$
of$all$the$states.$
&
`8 P2.$&+,&$2"&#.6"&('&$2"&*(/"%#6"#$&1%".$"4&+#&$2+,&@%".6?-"\&
The$United$States$of$America$
$
_8 P2(&7"%"&$2"&@.%$#"%,&1%".$+#*&$2+,&<#+(#\&
The$listed$states$
$
a8 P2.$&%"-.$+(#,2+@&('&$2"&,$.$",&$(&$2"&;"4"%.-&*(/"%#6"#$&+,&,<**",$"4&+#&$2+,&
@%".6?-"\&
The$relationship$between$the$Federal$government$and$the$states$is$not$hierarchical$
but$the$Federal$government$acts$as$the$agent$of$the$states$with$all$its$action$subject$
to$the$approval$of$all$the$states.$
Understanding+Federalism+
!"#$"%&'(%&)"*+,-.$+/"&0%12+/",&
3.$+(#.-&0%12+/",&.#4&5"1(%4,&046+#+,$%.$+(#&
7778.%12+/",8*(/9-"*+,-.$+/"&
`&
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Worksheet+3:+Answer+Key$
K%".6?-"&('&!(#,$+$<$+(#&('&$2"&C#+$"4&D$.$",&L:HIHM&
P"&$2"&K"(@-"&('&$2"&C#+$"4&D$.$",>&+#&Q%4"%&$(&'(%6&.&6(%" &@"%'" 1$&C #+(# >&",$.? -+,2&
W<,$+1">&+#,<%"&4( 6 ", $+1&A%. #J <+-+$=>&@%( /+4 "&'(%&$2 "&1( 6 6 ( #&4 "'" #," >&@%(6($"&$2"&*"#"%. -&
P"-'.%">&.#4&,"1<%"&$2"&G-",,+#*,&('&)+?"%$=&$(&(<%,"-/",&.#4&(<%&K(,$"%+$=>&4(&(%4.+#&.#4&
",$.?-+,2&$2+,&!(#,$+$<$+(#&'(%&$2"&C#+$"4&D$.$",&('&06"%+1.8&
LD(<%1"[&2$$@[997778(<%4(1<6"#$,8*(/94(18@2@\4(1]b^@.*"]$%.#,1%+@$M&
&
c8 !%".$"&.&4+.*%.6&+--<,$%.$+#*&$2"&*(/"%#6"#$&4",1%+?"4&+#&$2+,&@%".6?-"8&
The$key$fact$to$be$depicted$in$this$diagram$is$that$the$people,$in$general$not$as$
citizens$of$various$states,$have$formed$the$United$States$of$America.$The$states$are$
not$mentioned.&
&
d8 P2.$&+,&$2"&#.6"&('&$2"&*(/"%#6"#$&1%".$"4&+#&$2+,&@%".6?-"\&
The$United$States$of$America$
&
H8 P2(&7"%"&$2"&@.%$#"%,&1%".$+#*&$2+,&<#+(#\&
The$People$
$
8. P2.$&%"-.$+(#,2+@&('&$2"&,$.$",&$(&$2"&;"4"%.-&*(/"%#6"#$&+,&,<**",$"4&+#&$2+,&
@%".6?-"\$
$The$states$are$not$mentioned,$indicating$that$the$People$have$formed$a$union$over$
and$above$their$citizenship$within$states.$
$
Summary+Directions:&eO.6+#"&$2"&4.$",&('&$2"&$7(&"O1"%@$,&.#4&7%+$"&.&(#"V,"#$"#1"&
%",@(#,"&$(&".12&('&$2"&'(--(7+#*&J<",$+(#,[&
&
:8 R(7&+,&$2"&%(-"&('&$2"&,$.$",&4+''"%"#$&+#&$2"&$7(&@%".6?-",\&
Under$the$Articles$of$Confederation$the$states$were$the$partners$to$the$union$and$
had$power$over$the$action$of$the$federal$government.$The$relationship$of$the$states$
to$the$Federal$government$was$not$mentioned$in$the$Preamble$of$the$Constitution$
&
`8 N(",&$2"&4+''"%"#1"&+#&$2"&%(-"&('&$2"&,$.$",&,<**",$&.&12.#*"&+#&$2"&6".#+#*&('&
'"4"%.-+,6\&eO@-.+#8&
Federalism$under$the$Articles$of$Confederation$meant$that$all$states$had$to$agree$to$
each$action$of$the$Federal$government$in$order$for$the$Federal$government$to$act.$$
The$role$of$the$states$and$their$relationship$is$not$spelled$out$in$the$Preamble$of$the$
Constitution.&
&
Understanding+Federalism+
Center&for&Legislative&Archives&
National&Archives&and&Records&Administration&
www.archives.gov/legislative&
&
&
Worksheet+4:+Answer+Key+
+
The&list&of&powers&granted&to&and&denied&to&the&Congress&in&Article&I,&and&the&powers&reserved&
by&the&10th&Amendment&of&the&U.S.&Constitution&serve&as&an&outline&of&Federalism.&
&
Directions:+Read&the&following&excerpt&from&the&Constitution.&Label&each&power&E&if&it&
represents&an&enumerated&power&(granted&to&the&Federal&government);&D&if&it&is&a&denied&
power;&or&R&if&it&is&a&reserved&powers.&&
ARTICLE&I,&SECTION&8&&
Each%power%listed%in%this%section%is%an%enumerated%power.%
&
ARTICLE&I,&SECTION&9&&
Each%power%listed%in%this%section%is%a%denied%power.%
%
TENTH&AMENDMENT&&&
The%Tenth%Amendment%does%not%list%any%specific%powers.%Instead,%it%broadly%says%that%all%powers%
not%given%to%the%national%government%are%reserved%for%the%states%and%the%people.%This%leaves%the%
meaning%of%reserved%powers!open%to%interpretation%in%the%states.%
&
Examples%of%powers%that%belong%to%the%states:%
1.%The%power%to%run%elections%
2.%The%power%to%set%up%and%run%schools%
&
Check+Your+Understanding:+
A. Which&clause&of&Article&I,&Section&8&do&you&think&has&the&greatest&influence&on&the&
discussion&of&Federalism?&
The%answers%can%vary,%but%the%most%solid%case%might%be%made%for%Article%I,%Section%18%“To%
make%all%Laws%which%shall%be%necessary%and%proper%for%carrying%into%Execution%the%
foregoing%Powers,%and%all%other%Powers%vested%by%this%Constitution%in%the%Government%of%
the%United%States,%or%in%any%Department%or%Officer%thereof.”&
%
B. In&what&ways&might&the&Tenth&Amendment&influence&the&interpretation&of&the&
Enumerated&Powers?&
The%Tenth%Amendment%suggests%that%the%states%have%undefined%powers%reserved%to%
them.%%Determining%the%extent%of%the%authority%reserved%to%the%states%by%this%amendment%
has%been%a%long-running%debate%in%U.S.%history.%
&
&
Understanding+Federalism+
Center&for&Legislative&Archives&
National&Archives&and&Records&Administration&
www.archives.gov/legislative&
1&
&
&
Worksheet+5:+Answer+Key+
+
This&worksheet&draws&on&two&famous&pieces&of&legislation&that&shifted&the&balance&of&authority&
between&the&Federal&government&and&the&states&during&the&20th¢ury.&Each&example&reflects&
an&interpretation&of&the&relationship&between&state&and&Federal&governments&at&one&time.&
Balancing&Federal&and&state&powers&is&a&complex&process,&and&the&balance&of&power&has&shifted&
at&different×&in&American&history.&&
The+Social+Security+Bill+(1935)+(excerpt)+
The&committee&on&Ways&and&Means,&to&whom&was&referred&the&bill…&to&provide&for&the&
general&welfare&by&establishing&a&system&of&Federal&old-age&benefits,&and&by&enabling&
the&several&States&to&make&more&adequate&provision&for&aged&persons…&
&
This&bill&provides&for&various&grants-in-aid&to&the&States;&establishes&a&Federal&old-age&
benefit&system&and&a&Social&Security&board;&and&imposes&certain&taxes…&
&
Title&1:&Grants-in-aid&are&to&be&made&to&the&States&for&old-age&pensions&to&persons&who&
have&reached&the&age&of&65.&&In&making&these&grants&the&Federal&government&will&match&
what&the&States&put&up,&within&certain&limits.&
&
Title&II:&A&system&of&Federal&old-age&benefits,&payable&to&people&who&have&reached&the&
age&of&65&will&begin&in&1942…”&
&
1. Briefly&summarize&this&legislation.&
It#established#a#federal#system#of#old-age#benefits#funded#through#grants#to#states#and#
taxes.&
#
2. What&constitutional&duty&of&government&is&cited&to&justify&a&Federal&old-age&pension&
program?&&
To#provide#for#the#general#welfare#
&
3. Which&level(s)&of&government&will&fund&the&programs?&
Federal#
#
4. What&relationship&of&state&and&Federal&authority&is&reflected&in&this&legislation?&
The#Federal#government#provides#grants#to#states#but#also#bypasses#state#authority#by#
providing#pensions#to#individuals.#
#
5. The#X#in#the#diagram#should#be#located#on#the#Federal#side#of#the#balance#because#the#
Federal#government#was#assuming#a#new#role#in#providing#pensions#to#individuals.#
&
+
Understanding+Federalism+
Center&for&Legislative&Archives&
National&Archives&and&Records&Administration&
www.archives.gov/legislative&
2&
&
&
Voting+Rights+Act+(1965)+(excerpts)+
“An&Act&to&Enforce&the&Fifteenth&Amendment&to&the&Constitution&of&the&United&States”&
&
Be&it&enacted&by&the&Senate&and&House&of&Representatives&of&the&United&States&of&
America&in&Congress&assembled,&that&this&Act&shall&be&known&as&the&‘Voting&Rights&Act&of&
1965.’&
…&
SEC.&4.&(a)&To&assure&that&the&right&of&citizens&of&the&United&States&to&vote&is¬&denied&
or&abridged&on&account&of&race&or&color,&no&citizen&shall&be&denied&the&right&to&vote&in&
any&Federal,&State,&or&local&election&because&of&his&failure&to&comply&with&any&test&or&
device&in&any&State…”&
&
*&Amendment&XV.&
&
Section&1.&The&right&of&citizens&of&the&United&States&to&vote&shall¬&be&denied&or&
abridged&by&the&United&States&or&by&any&State&on&account&of&race,&color,&or&previous&
condition&of&servitude—&
&
Section&2.&The&Congress&shall&have&the&power&to&enforce&this&article&by&appropriate&
legislation.&
&
6. Briefly&summarize&this&legislation.&
The#act#guaranteed#that#voting#rights#not#be#denied#on#account#of#race.#
&
1. What&Constitutional&Amendment&does&the&legislation&enforce?&
The#15th#Amendment#
#
2. What&relationship&of&state&and&Federal&authority&is&reflected&in&this&legislation?&
The# Federal# government# would# be# exercising# new# authority# over# the# states# by#
guaranteeing#voting#rights#in#states#where#they#had#been#previously#been#denied.&
&
3. The#X#in#the#diagram#should#be#located#on#the#Federal#side#of#the#balance#because#the#
federal#government#was#assuming#a#new#role#in#protecting#voting#rights#guaranteed#by#
the#15th#Amendment#in#states#found#to#have#practiced#racial#discrimination#in#elections.&
&
Understanding+Federalism+
Center&for&Legislative&Archives&
National&Archives&and&Records&Administration&
www.archives.gov/legislative&
&
&
Worksheet+6:+Answer+Key+
+
Directions:&The&following&narrative&contains&15&underlined&instances&of&local,&state,&and&Federal&
government.&Label&on&the&paper:&L+for+local,+S+for+state,+F+for+Federal.&If&you&believe&that&a&
power&is&concurrently&held&(shared&between&several&levels&of&government),&code&that&activity&
with&a&C+for+concurrent.&Be&prepared&to&explain&your&choices.&
The&best&part&of&getting&your&state&driver’s&license
S
&is&the&day&you&finally&get&to&drive&to&
school.
L
&I&grabbed&the&car&key&from&a&basket&by&the&front&door&and&walked&nervously&out&
to& the& driveway.& & “Hold& it,”& called& my& dad.& & “I& had& to& renew& the& state& vehicle&
registration.
S
&Please&put&it&in&the&car&for&me.”&Driving&down&my&neighborhood&street
L
,&I&
felt&free.&&This&was&much&better&than&riding&a&bike&or&waiting&for&the&school&bus.
L
&
Several& traffic& lights
L
& down& the& county& highway,
L
& I& got& stuck& behind& a& stopped&
commuter&bus.&&I&had&what& seemed&like&an&eternity&to&read&all&the&messages&painted&on&
the&back&of&the&bus.&It&was&a&state&department&of&transportation
S&
bus&with&a&U.S.&DOT
F
&
registration&number.&&I&finally&got&on&the&interstate
S/F&
(the%interstate%system%is%run%under%
a%combination%of%state%and%federal%authority)%and&thought,&“I&can&make&it&to&school&on&
time&if&there&are&no&more&stops.”&
Right&before&my&exit,&though,&I&came&upon&a&fender&bender&that&had&snarled&traffic&in&all&
the& lanes& but& one.& It& was& not& serious.& & A& pickup& had& run& into& a& U.S.& mail
F
& truck.&&
Everyone&seemed&okay,&although&the&pickup’s&air&bag&had&inflated.
&F
&An&ambulance&and&
a&fire&truck
L
&were&on&the&scene,&and&a&state&police&officer
S
&directed&traffic.
&
I&finally&got&to&school&and&found&the&very&last&spot&in&the&student&parking&lot.&&I&grabbed&
my&laptop&and&ran&for&my&homeroom.&I&ran&as&fast&as&I&coul d&and&didn’t&even&slow&down&
and& look& when& I& got& to& the& crosswalk.
L
& I& made& it& with& 30& seconds& to& spare.& This& was&
going&to&be&a&great&day.&
